His Wife Was on MH370: K.S. Narendran on Loss, the Search and Living with Uncertainty

On 8 March 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, a Boeing 777, took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing with 239 people on board: 227 passengers and 12 crew. Less than 40 minutes after take-off, routine contact with air traffic control ended. Subsequent radar and satellite communications indicated that the aircraft had travelled far from its planned route, towards the southern Indian Ocean. They have helped investigators identify possible search areas, but they have not established what happened or where the main wreckage lies. Debris believed to be from the aircraft has been found, but the plane itself has not. Among the passengers was Chandrika Sharma, K.S. Narendran’s wife, travelling to Mongolia for a conference. In this deeply personal conversation, Naren shares more than the story of MH370. He talks about growing up in Chennai, his early dreams, his work as an organisational consultant, and the family life he and Chandrika built together.Naren remembers their last phone call, when they were discussing plans for a house in the hills, and the morning he learned that the flight was missing. He reflects on the long wait for reliable information, the impact on their daughter and family, the support that was—and wasn’t—available, and what it means to live with loss when there are still so many unanswered questions. He also speaks about Chandrika herself and his efforts to advocate for the families who continue to wait for answers.Naren is the author of Life After MH370: Journeying Through a Void, his personal account of grief, family and life after Chandrika’s disappearance. Find the book here:https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/life-after-mh370-9789386432148/The latest search effort ended on 23 January 2026 without locating the aircraft. Malaysia has extended its agreement with Ocean Infinity to continue the search through 30 June 2027. Thank you to K.S. Narendran for sharing his story and remembering Chandrika with us.0:00 The Disappearance of MH3701:53 Roots and Early Life4:48 Childhood Dreams and Aspirations8:05 The Facts of the Tragedy12:49 The Morning Everything Changed24:00 Navigating the Lack of Support35:03 The Long Search for Answers59:49 Remembering a Life of Purpose1:07:25 Finding Meaning in the Aftermath#MH370 #KSNarendran #ChandrikaSharma #TheGrowthTimeMachine